Can I use BUSL-1.1 (Business Source License) software in production?

Q: Is commercial production deployment allowed under Business Source License 1.1?

Needs review. Production use depends on the Additional Use Grant this licensor wrote into its copy of the license, which differs from project to project. A reviewer should read that grant. Production deployment depends on the licensor's Additional Use Grant. A reviewer should read that grant and the Change Date for the version you use. Duties: license_notice, keep_change_terms.

Last updated 2026-10-23

TL;DR: Commercial production deployment: Needs review. The Business Source License 1.1 is source-available, not open source: production use is allowed only as the licensor's Additional Use Grant says, until the Change Date.

Is commercial production deployment allowed under Business Source License 1.1?

Needs review. Production use depends on the Additional Use Grant this licensor wrote into its copy of the license, which differs from project to project. A reviewer should read that grant.

License: Business Source License 1.1 (BUSL-1.1, curated)

Production deployment depends on the licensor's Additional Use Grant. A reviewer should read that grant and the Change Date for the version you use.

Duties: license_notice, keep_change_terms

What else should I know?

Every BUSL project sets its own Additional Use Grant and Change Date; read them in that project's LICENSE file. After the Change Date the code converts to the named Change License.

What are the sources?

Business Source License 1.1

How can I check it myself (free, no key)?

{
  "tool": "check_license",
  "arguments": {
    "license": "BUSL-1.1",
    "intended_use": {
      "commercial_use": true,
      "deployment": true
    }
  }
}

Computed from a2ally's license profiles; not legal advice. JSON · Markdown

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